Sarasota County commissioners voted Tuesday to ask the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to approve a slow speed/minimum wake zone around Ted Sperling Park at South Lido Beach. The park sits where the Gulf of Mexico, Big Sarasota Pass, Sarasota Bay and Brushy Bayou all converge, a stretch of water known for strong currents and steady boat traffic. County leaders say the number of watercraft mooring near the park at times creates real safety concerns.
The request is a compromise. The county first pushed for an idle speed/no wake zone within 300 feet of the beach, but the FWC denied it in December 2025 and again in May 2026, ruling the county’s evidence didn’t justify the stricter rule even after staff submitted video of jet ski activity. The state did leave the door open, suggesting a less restrictive slow speed zone instead. Under that rule, motorboats would have to travel off plane and create only a minimal wake.
County staff has been directed to submit a draft ordinance for the slow speed/minimum wake zone for FWC review. Nothing is finalized, and the state has the final say on what rules take effect at this busy junction. Boaters, paddlers and beachgoers around South Lido could all feel the impact one way or another.
What do you think: is a slow speed zone the right middle ground, or should the county have kept pushing for a full no-wake rule?
